What a stunning morning on the Hoerikwaggo Hiking Trail!32 trailers rendezvoused at a dark and chilly Constantia Nek and split into two big groups. The sun rose as we were climbing up the steps towards the mast and Vlakkenberg Peak, bathing us in a warm orange light that made us forget about the steep incline and rather breathe in the views of Constantia on our left and Hout Bay Upper towards Orange Kloof on our right.
Stopping for the mandatory group photo on a short piece of tar, we mulled over the fact that we didn't do this route often enough, the last time being 3 whole years ago!
The views from the lookout rock at Skoorsteenberg were spectacular. Knowing that it was all down from here was a sweetener. The Faster Group raced on to the manganese mines adding an additional 4kms of very runnable meandering contour path to their distance.
Lush vegetation lined the narrow single track down towards the valley and there were a few tumbles, but what's a good trail run without at least one fall? We reached Bokkemanskloof Estate all too soon. The last couple of kms on the jeep track were mean, just mean.
Back at the cars, we warmed ourselves in the mid-winter sun and reiterated that this is a lovely route that should be added to the calendar more often.
The Medium Group did just under 10kms in about 2 hours and the Faster Group covered 14kms in 2,5 hours.
Lorraine
❤️_/\/^^^^\/\_❤️
Next week's run: Tygerberg Nature Reserve.
